TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a shield plate and a vehicle structure provided
with the shield plate.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, most vehicles have an engine room in which an engine is accommodated
in the front body of the vehicle. In the rear of the engine room, an air box which
takes in ambient air is positioned in the lower position of a windshield.
The inside of a vehicle compartment is usually ventilated by letting the ambient air
taken in the air box flow into the vehicle compartment through a vent opening in the
cowl top cover. At this time, however, hot air or odor in the engine room inadvertently
flows into the vehicle compartment.
[0003] Therefore, it is desirable to shut off the flow of such hot air or odor into the
vehicle compartment while ambient air is let flow into the vehicle compartment.
For example, a mounting structure of an insulator has been proposed in which when
an insulator is mounted to a vehicle body panel in order to shut off air circulating
in a space formed of the vehicle body panel, a fender panel, and a fender protector,
a mounting means for mounting the insulator is provided with a breaking part broken
by an impact force applied to the fender panel (see, for example, the following Patent
Document 1).
[Citation List]
[Patent Document]
[0004]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-90999
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED
[0005] However, in the mounting structure of the insulator described in the aforementioned
Patent Document 1, the breaking part is provided in the mounting means for mounting
the insulator, and at the time of the collision of an automobile, the breaking part
absorbs an impact of the collision by breaking the mounting means at the breaking
part, which detaches the insulator from the fender panel, resulting in deformation
of the fender panel.
On the other hand, in the above-mentioned structure, the breaking part is provided
at a specific site of the mounting means, so that when the impact at the collision
is insufficiently applied to the specific site, the breaking part may not be broken.
In such case, the insulator does not fall from the fender panel, making it difficult
to deform the fender panel, resulting in less absorption of the impact.
[0006] Besides, with the above-mentioned structure, different types of vehicles have different
shapes of insulators, so that the breaking part must be positioned at a specific site
corresponding to each vehicle type, making it difficult to improve production efficiency.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shield plate capable
of reliably absorbing an impact by bending itself regardless of a site to which an
external force is applied and of improving production efficiency irrespective of the
shape, and a vehicle structure provided with the shield plate.
[0007] JP 2008-056106 A relates to a cowl structure of vehicle. In the cowl structure, a cowl space formed
between a cowl body and a cowl louver is partitioned into one side in the vehicle
width direction and the other side in the vehicle width direction by a partition wall
mounted on the cowl body. The partition is mounted on the cowl body in an obliquely
inclined condition with respect to an automobile, and when an impact force over a
predetermined value is applied on the cowl louver from a top side, the mounting condition
on the cowl body is released and the partition wall is fallen. Thus, the cowl louver
can be deformed independently from the partition wall, the partition wall need not
be adequately weakened, and the design of the partition wall can be facilitated.
[0008] EP 2 113 447 A1 relates to an automobile structure, method for manufacturing same, and vehicle comprising
such a structure. The structure has a crosspiece comprising an upper element fixed
to lower elements e.g. crosspiece liner and central liner, by a partition to form
walls delimiting front and rear caissons. The partition has a fixation unit including
a connection formed by electric welding points between the partition and the central
liner. The fixation unit has connections formed by intumescent joints between the
crosspiece liner and the partition.
[0009] JP 2004-210085 A relates to a cowl top cover of automobile. A cowl top cover to cover the cowl part
of the automobile is constituted of a front panel part positioned below a front hood,
a rear panel part a rear end part of which makes contact with a front end part of
a front glass and a ventilation part for introducing outside air provided between
the front panel part and the rear panel part, and the ventilation part is constituted
free to be broken by receiving an impact load from above.
[0010] JP 2008-302883 A relates to a cowl louver structure. Since a rib (deformation suppressing means) for
suppressing deformation of a cross section in a vehicle longitudinal direction is
connected to a front wall part and a rear wall part of the cowl louver, deformation
of the cross section like that a clearance between the front wall part and the rear
wall part is opened/closed in the vehicle longitudinal direction is suppressed at
usual use. Further, when collision load is inputted relative to an upper edge of the
front wall part from the vehicle upper part, a cut-in part (deformation promotion
means) for promoting deformation of the rib in the vehicle vertical direction is provided
on portions other than connection parts relative to the front wall part and the rear
wall part at the rib. Therefore, when the collision body collides to the cowl louver
from the vehicle upper part, the front wall part is relatively deformed of the vehicle
lower part relative to the rear wall part to absorb the impact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful shield
plate in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.
[0012] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, there is provided a shield plate
according to claim 1.
[0013] Advantageous embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.
[0014] Advantageously, a shield plate includes a flat plate shaped member; and a stress-concentrating
portion which is formed over the entire surface of the flat plate shaped member and
bends when an external force is applied.
[0015] In the shield plate, the stress-concentrating portion that bends when an external
force is applied is formed over the entire surface of the flat plate shaped member.
Therefore, the flat plate shaped member can bend even if an external force is applied
to any site of the stress-concentrating portion. In addition, since the stress-concentrating
portion is provided over the entire surface of the flat plate shaped member, any shape
of the flat plate shaped member allows the stress-concentrating portion to be subjected
to an external force.
[0016] As a result, the shield plate can reliably absorb an impact and can also improve
production efficiency.
[0017] In the shield plate, it is preferable that the flat plate shaped member includes
a first plate; a second plate opposed to the first plate; and a plurality of struts
installed between the first plate and the second plate, and the stress-concentrating
portion is a frangible portion formed between the struts.
[0018] In the shield plate, the flat plate shaped member is formed from the first plate,
the second plate, and the struts, and the frangible portion is formed between the
struts.
Therefore, the struts can maintain the strength of the shield plate, and the frangible
portion between the struts allows the flat plate shaped member to reliably bend.
In the shield plate, it is preferable that the flat plate shaped member has the frangible
portion formed along at least one direction.
[0019] In the shield plate, the frangible portion is formed along at least one direction.
This allows the flat plate shaped member to reliably bend along one direction at the
site to which an external force is applied.
As a result, the shield plate can further reliably absorb an impact at the time of
a collision.
In the shield plate, it is preferable that the flat plate shaped member has a plurality
of the frangible portions parallely-arranged at spaced intervals in a direction orthogonal
to a direction in which the frangible portions are formed.
[0020] In the shield plate, a plurality of the frangible portions are parallely-arranged
at spaced intervals in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the frangible
portions are formed. This allows the flat plate shaped member to bend in the direction
orthogonal to the frangible portion formed direction regardless of a site to which
an external force is applied.
As a result, the shield plate can further reliably absorb an impact at the time of
a collision.
In the shield plate, it is preferable that the flat plate shaped member has the frangible
portions formed along each of three directions, a plurality of the frangible portions
being parallely-arranged at spaced intervals in each direction orthogonal to each
of the three directions.
[0021] In the shield plate, a plurality of the frangible portions are parallely-arranged
at spaced intervals in directions orthogonal to the three directions. This allows
the flat plate shaped member to bend in any direction regardless of a site to which
an external force is applied.
As a result, the shield plate can further reliably absorb an impact at the time of
a collision.
In the shield plate, it is preferable that the edgewise crush resistance in a direction
in which the frangible portions are parallely-arranged is 0.02 to 0.9 times higher
than the edgewise crush resistance in a direction in which the frangible portions
are formed.
[0022] The shield plate has 0.02 to 0.9 times higher edgewise crush resistance in the direction
in which the frangible portions are parallely-arranged than that in the direction
in which the frangible portions are formed. In other words, the edgewise crush resistance
in the direction in which the frangible portions are parallely-arranged is set lower
than that in the frangible portion formation direction. Therefore, the application
of an external force from the direction in which the frangible portions are parallely-arranged
allows the flat plate shaped member to easily bend.
[0023] As a result, the shield plate can more reliably absorb the impact from the direction
in which the frangible portions are parallely-arranged.
It is preferable that the shield plate further includes a reinforcing portion partially
formed in the flat plate shaped member.
The reinforcing portion can reinforce a desired site in the shield plate. Therefore,
the strength of the desired site can be improved.
[0024] It is preferable that the shield plate further includes a bending portion, different
from the stress-concentrating portion, partially formed in the flat plate shaped member
and bends when an external force is applied.
In the shield plate, a desired site of the flat plate shaped member can be bent.
In the shield plate, it is preferable that the bending portion is formed along one
direction and is bendable along the one direction when mounted to a structural member
and/or when flow of a liquid and/or a solid arises in a space of the structural member.
[0025] In the shield plate, when the structural member is formed in a complex shape, the
flat plate shaped member is bent, so that it can be reliably positioned in the structural
member.
Alternatively, bending of the flat plate shaped member allows the liquid and/or the
solid in the space of the structural member to pass through.
In the shield plate, it is preferable that the bending portion is formed by hot pressing
in a thickness direction of the flat plate shaped member, a single-cut line inclined
along the one direction is formed on one surface of the bending portion and the other
surface thereof, the single-cut line in one surface of the bending portion and the
single-cut line in the other surface of the bending portion intersect when projected
in the thickness direction.
[0026] In the shield plate, the single-cut line can improve movability of the bending portion,
and can also improve durability of the bending portion because the single-cut lines
in one surface and the other surface of the bending portion are intersecting when
projected in the thickness direction.
In the shield plate, it is preferable that an elastic member is provided in at least
one portion of the peripheral portion of the flat plate shaped member.
[0027] In the shield plate, the elastic member is positioned in the peripheral portion of
the flat plate shaped member. Therefore, when the shield plate is mounted in the space
in the structural member, the elastic member deforms into the shape of the space in
the structural member to firmly stick to the structural member.
As a result, the shielding effect can be improved by firmly sticking the shield plate
to the structural member with simple construction.
[0028] In the shield plate, it is preferable that the elastic member includes a fitting
portion which fits over the peripheral portion so as to sandwich the peripheral portion,
and an elastic portion positioned on the opposite side of the flat plate shaped member
relative to the fitting portion.
In the shield plate, the elastic member includes a fitting portion which fits over
the peripheral portion so as to sandwich the peripheral portion, and an elastic portion
positioned on the opposite side of the flat plate shaped member relative to the fitting
portion.
[0029] Therefore, the elastic member can be reliably fixed to the flat plate shaped member
by sandwiching the peripheral portion of the flat plate shaped member with the fitting
portion, and when the shield plate is attached to the space in the structural member,
the elastic portion can be reliably firmly stuck to the structural member.
In the shield plate, it is preferable that the elastic member includes an elastic
layer and an adhesive layer formed on a surface of the elastic layer, and the elastic
member has an overlapping portion positioned outside the peripheral portion and overlapped
by mutually bonding the elastic layer via the adhesive layer, and an attached portion
stuck to the peripheral portion by continuously bonding one surface and the other
surface of the peripheral portion.
[0030] In the shield plate, the attached portion allows the overlapping portion to fix to
the flat plate shaped member, and the overlapping portion can reliably firmly stick
to the structural member to which the shield plate is attached.
It is preferable that the shield plate further includes a flexible sheet laminated
on at least one surface of the flat plate shaped member, incudes an extending portion
and extended outward from the peripheral portion of the flat plate shaped member.
[0031] In the shield plate, the flexible extending portion can be reliably attached to the
structural member where the shield plate is mounted.
On the other hand, bending of the flexible extending portion allows the shield plate
to be reliably positioned in the structural member having a complex shape, or bending
of the flexible extending portion allows a liquid and/or a solid in the space in the
structural member to pass through, and the space in the structural member can be reliably
shut off.
[0032] It is preferable that the shield plate further includes a fixing member attached
to the flat plate shaped member and fixable to the space in the structural member.
The shield plate is provided with the fixing member fixable to the space in the structural
member in the flat plate shaped member. Therefore, even if the fixing member is not
formed separately, the shield plate can be installed in the space in the structural
member.
[0033] As a result, the shield plate can be easily installed in the space in the structural
member.
The vehicle structure is provided with a shield plate comprising a flat plate shaped
member and a stress-concentrating portion which is formed over the entire surface
of the flat plate shaped member and bends when an external force is applied.
Therefore, the vehicle structure can reliably absorb an impact at the time of a collision.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0034] The shield plate of the present invention can reliably absorb an impact and can also
improve production efficiency.
The vehicle structure of the present invention can reliably absorb an impact at the
time of a collision.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035]
FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a shield plate of a first embodiment according
to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a major portion of a vehicle seen from the upper left
as an example of a vehicle structure provided with the shield plate shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a left side view of the major portion of the vehicle shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the major portion seen from the upper left illustrating
the case where an external force is applied to the vehicle shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the shield plate on the left side shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view from the upper left illustrating a second embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a left side view illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 shows drawings for explaining a method for adhesively bonding an elastic member
to the peripheral portion in a fourth embodiment of the present invention,
- (a) showing the step of opening the front end of a fitting portion toward both sides
in a thickness direction, and
- (b) showing the step of adhesively bonding the front end of the fitting portion to
the peripheral portion;
FIG. 10 shows drawings for explaining a method for adhesively bonding an elastic member
to the peripheral portion in a fifth embodiment of the present invention,
- (a) showing the step of abutting an adhesive layer on the inner surface of the elastic
member against a peripheral portion of a flat plate shaped member, and
- (b) showing the step of bonding the widthwise end of the elastic member to the left
side surface and the right side surface of the flat plate shaped member;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view, taken along the line B-B shown in FIG. 11, illustrating
a first recess and a second recess of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view, taken along the line C-C shown in FIG. 11, illustrating
a filling portion of FIG. 11;
FIG. 14 is a sectional view, taken along the line D-D shown in FIG. 11, illustrating
a bending portion of FIG. 11;
FIG. 15 shows a perspective view for explaining bending in the bending portion of
FIG. 11;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating the bending portion of a seventh embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the bending portion of an eighth embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the bending portion of a ninth embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating the bending portion of a tenth embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating an eleventh embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 21 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a flexure portion of FIG. 20;
FIG. 22 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the line E-E shown in FIG. 20,
illustrating an elastic member of FIG. 20;
FIG. 23 shows drawings for explaining a method for adhesively bonding an elastic member
to the peripheral portion,
- (a) showing the step of preparing an elastic adhesive sheet,
- (b) showing the step of peeling off a release film at the widthwise center,
- (c) showing the step of bonding the widthwise center to each other,
- (d) showing the step of facing the attached portion to the peripheral portion of the
flat plate shaped member, and
- (e) showing the step of adhesively bonding the attached portion to the peripheral
portion of the flat plate shaped member.
EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a shield plate of a first embodiment according
to the present invention and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in
FIG. 1. The shield plate 1 will be based on the directions when a shield plate 1 is
fixed in a vertical direction, specifically, based on the directional arrows shown
in the drawings, if the directions are noted.
As shown in FIG. 1, the shield plate 1 includes a flat plate shaped member 2, an elastic
member 3 provided around the perimeter of the peripheral portion of the flat plate
shaped member 2, and a clip 4 attached to the flat plate shaped member 2 as a fixing
member fixable to a space in a structural member.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the flat plate shaped member 2 has a ladder-shaped cross-section
(a harmonica-shaped cross-section), and integrally includes a left side plate 5 serving
as a first flat plate, a right side plate 6 serving as a second flat plate spaced
in opposed relation to the left side plate 5 in the left-and-right (horizontal) direction,
and a plurality of struts 7 installed between the left side plate 5 and the right
side plate 6.
As shown in FIG. 1, the flat plate shaped member 2 is formed in a specified shape
corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the space in the structural member to
be described later, for example, with its rear side being formed in a generally rectangular
shape in side view extending along an up-and-down direction and its front side being
formed in a generally pentagonal shape in side view projecting forward from the upper
end portion of its rear side to the center in the up-and-down-direction.
[0038] The left side plate 5 and the right side plate 6 are formed in a flat plate shape
corresponding to the outer shape of the flat plate shaped member 2.
A plurality of the struts 7 are spaced in parallel to one another in the front-and-rear-direction
(a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of the flat plate shaped member
2) across the entire surface of the flat plate shaped member 2. Each of the struts
7 is formed in a straight line so as to be inclined toward the rear side as it extends
upward. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the struts 7 are formed in a flat plate extending
along the left-and-right direction.
[0039] In the flat plate shaped member 2, each of the portions between the struts 7 is
partitioned as a frangible portion 8 (a stress-concentrating portion) which is more
frangible than the portions in which the struts 7 are formed.
Specifically, each of the frangible portions 8 is formed along one direction (shown
as a frangible portion formation direction F in FIG. 1) between the struts 7 formed
in a straight line, each frangible portion 8 being formed over the entire flat plate
shaped member 2 so as to be spaced in a direction orthogonal to the frangible portion
formation direction F.
[0040] The flat plate shaped member 2 can be formed in the following manner. First, a synthetic
resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyester, polystyrene,
or acrylic is integrally molded into a sheet shape having the above-mentioned cross-sectional
shape by extrusion molding, and then the molded resin is punched into the above-mentioned
shape, so that the flat plate shaped member 2 can be formed. Preferably, the flat
plate shaped member 2 is formed from polypropylene and polycarbonate.
[0041] The flat plate shaped member 2 can be formed by, for example, punching a commercially
available corrugated plastic sheet (Danpla sheet) into the above-mentioned shape.
The area weight of the flat plate shaped member 2 is in the range of, for example,
200 to 2000 g/m
2, or preferably 300 to 1500g/m
2. When the area weight of the flat plate shaped member 2 is less than the above range,
the strength of the flat plate shaped member 2 becomes disadvantageously too low.
On the other hand, when the area weight of the flat plate shaped member 2 is more
than the above range, the flat plate shaped member 2 becomes disadvantageously difficult
to bend.
[0042] The edgewise crush resistance of the flat plate shaped member 2 in a direction in
which the frangible portions are parallely-arranged is, for example, 0.02 to 0.9 times,
or preferably 0.05 to 0.5 times higher than that in the frangible portion formation
direction F. When the edgewise crush resistance of the flat plate shaped member 2
in a direction in which the frangible portions are parallely-arranged is lower than
the above range, it may be difficult to maintain the shape of the flat plate shaped
member 2. On the other hand, when the edgewise crush resistance of the flat plate
shaped member 2 in a direction in which the frangible portions are parallely-arranged
is higher than the above range, it may be difficult to bend the flat plate shaped
member 2 along an intended direction.
[0043] The edgewise crush resistance (endcrash) in the above-mentioned direction is determined
in accordance with JIS Z0403-2.
The left side plate 5 and the right side plate 6 are opposed at a spacing of, for
example, 0.8 to 10 mm, or preferably 2 to 5 mm, and have a thickness of, for example,
0.1 to 1 mm, or preferably 0.2 to 0.6 mm.
[0044] The struts 7 are spaced, for example, 0.8 to 10 mm, or preferably 2 to 5 mm apart
in parallel, and have a thickness of, for example, 0.1 to 1 mm, or preferably 0.2
to 0.6 mm. When the struts 7 are positioned at a spacing wider than the above-mentioned
spacing to one another, the strength of the flat plate shaped member 2 becomes disadvantageously
too low. On the other hand, when the struts 7 are positioned at a spacing narrower
than the above-mentioned spacing to one another, the strength of the flat plate shaped
member 2 becomes disadvantageously difficult to bend.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, the elastic member 3 includes a fitting portion 9 which fits
over the peripheral portion so as to sandwich the peripheral portion of the flat plate
shaped member 2, and an elastic portion 10 positioned on the opposite side of the
flat plate shaped member 2 relative to the fitting portion 9.
The fitting portion 9 is formed in a generally flat-bottomed U-shape in cross section
opening toward the flat plate shaped member 2 so as to correspond to the peripheral
end of the flat plate shaped member 2.
[0046] Examples of the fitting portion 9 include adhesive sheets, adhesive films, and hard
molded articles formed from synthetic resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene,
polyvinyl chloride, polyester, nylon, polyurethane, and epoxy; and adhesive sheets
formed from synthetic rubber foam such as ethylene-propylene rubber foam and ethylenepropylenediene
rubber foam. Of these, an adhesive sheet formed from synthetic rubber foam is preferable.
More preferable is an adhesive sheet formed from ethylenepropylenediene rubber foam.
[0047] The elastic portion 10 is formed in a generally rectangular shape in cross section.
The elastic portion 10 is formed of synthetic rubber foam such as polyurethane rubber
foam, ethylene-propylene rubber foam, and ethylenepropylenediene rubber foam, and
is preferably formed from ethylenepropylenediene rubber foam.
The elastic member 3 is formed by bonding the elastic portion 10 to the fitting portion
9 with an adhesive or the like.
[0048] The clip 4 is formed from, for example, hard synthetic resin molded article or the
like, integrally includes a clamping portion 11 which clamps the flat plate shaped
member 2 and the elastic member 3 from the left-and-right direction, and a fixing
portion 12 for fixing the clip 4 in the space in the structural member as shown in
FIG. 1, and is positioned one in each lower position on the front and rear sides of
the flat plate shaped member 2.
The clamping portion 11 integrally includes a bottom 13 having a generally rectangular
shape in plan view and two clamping pieces 14 extending upward from both edges of
the bottom in the left-and-right direction. The bottom 13 has a length in the left-and-right
direction of 2 to 18 mm, or preferably 4 to 12 mm. The bottom 13 has a thickness in
the range of, for example, 0.5 to 5 mm, or preferably 1 to 3 mm, and the clamping
piece 14 has a thickness in the range of, for example, 0.5 to 3 mm, or preferably
1 to 2 mm.
[0049] The fixing portion 12 is formed in a generally cylindrical shape so as to protrude
downward from the lower end face of the bottom 13. Further, the radial length of the
fixing portion 12 is formed shorter than both the front-and-rear-direction length
and the left-and-right direction length of the bottom 13.
For production of the shield plate 1, the fitting portion 9 of the elastic member
3 is first folded so as to clamp the peripheral portion of the flat plate shaped member
2 formed in a specified shape and then adhesively bonded. Subsequently, the flat plate
shaped member 2 and the elastic member 3 are inserted into the clamping piece 14 of
the clip 4 until they abut against the bottom 13. Therefore, the shield plate 1 is
obtained.
[0050] The shield plate 1 thus obtained is used for a partition of the space of the structural
member. Examples of the structural member include cowl members for vehicles.
The method of using the shield plate 1 shown in FIG. 1 will now be described by reference
to the following example applied to a cowl portion 24 of a vehicle 21 as an example
of vehicle structure.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a major portion of a cowl portion of a vehicle seen
from the upper left as an example of a vehicle structure provided with the shield
plate shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is a left side view of the major portion of the
vehicle shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, for convenience, the inner portion of the cowl
portion 24 is directly illustrated, and the elastic member 3 of the shield plate 1
is omitted.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle 21 includes a windshield 22, an engine hood 23, and
the cowl portion 24 provided between the windshield 22 and the engine hood 23.
The cowl portion 24 is positioned along the left-and-right direction of the vehicle
21 and is provided with a cowl flame 25 having a structure recessed downward. The
cowl flame 25 integrally includes an engine room-side groove 25a formed on the front
side, and a vehicle compartment-side groove 25b communicated to the rear side of the
engine room-side groove 25a and more deeply formed. A cowl space 26 as an example
of the space in the structural member is partitioned with the engine room-side groove
25a and the vehicle compartment-side groove 25b. An ambient air inlet port 27 for
introducing ambient air into the vehicle compartment is formed in the rear wall of
the vehicle compartment-side groove 25b. As shown in FIG. 4, in the bottom wall of
the engine room-side groove 25a and the vehicle compartment-side groove 25b, a fixing
portion insert hole 28 is formed in a position corresponding to each of the clips
4 positioned on the front and rear sides of the shield plate 1.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, the shield plate 1 is positioned in the cowl space 26 so as to
be positioned on both outsides of the ambient air inlet port 27 in the left-and-right
direction.
For positioning of the shield plate 1 in the cowl space 26, as shown in FIG. 4, the
fixing portion 12 of the clip 4 on the front side and the fixing portion 12 of the
clip 4 on the rear side are inserted through the fixing portion insert hole 28 of
the engine room-side groove 25a and the fixing portion insert hole 28 of the engine
room-side groove 25b, respectively, from above until the lower end face of the bottom
13 abuts against the bottom surface of the cowl flame 25, so that the elastic member
3 is fixed to be firmly stuck to the inner peripheral surface of the cowl flame 25.
[0053] Thus, in the cowl space 26, portion in which the ambient air inlet port 27 is formed
is shielded, so that hot air or odor from the engine room can be prevented from flowing
into the vehicle compartment through the ambient air inlet port 27.
An action of the shield plate 1 at the time of applying an impact force I as an external
force to the vehicle 21 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The
direction (the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1) in which the impact force
I is applied is assumed, for example, in the case where the vehicle 21 collides head-on
and the collided object hits onto the engine hood 23 and the cowl portion 24 of the
vehicle 21.
[0054] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the major portion seen from the upper left illustrating
the case where an external force is applied to the vehicle shown in FIG. 3; and FIG.
6 is an enlarged view of the shield plate on the left side shown in FIG. 5.
As shown in FIG. 5, the shield plate 1 bends when the impact force I is applied to
the vehicle 21.
[0055] In particular, the impact force I is first applied from a direction nearly orthogonal
to the frangible portion formation direction F, that is, from obliquely forward above
(see FIG. 1.).
In response to the impact force I, a stress is generated in the flat plate shaped
member 2, and the stress thus generated is concentrated on any site of the flat plate
shaped member 2 depending on how the impact force I is applied (amount of the impact
force, direction, site to be applied, etc.).
Since the frangible portions 8 are formed over the entire flat plate shaped member
2, the flat plate shaped member 2 bends in the frangible section 8 on which particularly
a stress concentrates when either the left side plate 5 or the right side plate 6
bends in the left-and-right direction, as shown in FIG. 6.
[0056] In particular, the flat plate shaped member 2 bends at two frangible portions 8 including
at the frangible portion 8 on the front side where it bends along the frangible portion
formation direction F so that the right side plate 6 between the struts 7 projects
toward the left side, and at the frangible portion 8 on the rear side where it bends
along the frangible portion formation direction F so that the left side plate 5 between
the struts 7 projects toward the right side.
Thus, the application of the impact force I causes the flat plate shaped member 2
to bend at the frangible portion 8 corresponding to the impact force I, thereby allowing
the impact force I to be absorbed.
[0057] According to the shield plate 1, the frangible portion 8 that bend when the impact
force I is applied is formed over the entire flat plate shaped member 2, so that even
if the impact force I is applied to any site of the flat plate shaped member 2, the
flat plate shaped member 2 can bend at the frangible portion 8. Besides, since the
frangible portions 8 are provided over the entire flat plate shaped member 2, any
shape of the flat plate shaped member 2 allows the impact force I to act on the frangible
portions 8.
[0058] As a result, the shield plate 1 can reliably absorb the impact force I and also improve
production efficiency.
According to the shield plate 1, the flat plate shaped member 2 is formed from the
left side plate 5, the right side plate 6, and the struts 7, and the frangible portions
8 are formed between the struts 7, so that the strength of the shield plate 1 can
be maintained in the struts 7, and the flat plate shaped member 2 can also reliably
bend at the frangible portions 8 between the struts 7.
[0059] In the shield plate 1, the frangible portions 8 are formed along the frangible portion
formation direction F. Therefore, the flat plate shaped member 2 can be reliably bent
at a site to which the impact force I is applied, along the frangible portion formation
direction F.
As a result, the shield plate 1 can more reliably absorb the impact force I.
In the shield plate 1, a plurality of frangible portions 8 are parallely-arranged
at spaced intervals in a direction orthogonal to the frangible portion formation direction
F. Therefore, regardless of the sites to which the impact force I is applied, the
flat plate shaped member 2 can be bent in the direction orthogonal to the frangible
portion formation direction F.
[0060] As a result, the shield plate 1 can more reliably absorb the impact force I.
The edgewise crush resistance of the shield plate 1 in a direction in which the frangible
portions 8 are parallely-arranged is, for example, 0.02 to 0.9 times higher than that
in the frangible portion formation direction F. In other words, the edgewise crush
resistance of the shield plate 1 in the direction in which the frangible portions
8 are parallely-arranged is set lower than that in the frangible portion formation
direction F. Therefore, for example, in the case where the vehicle 21 collides head-on
and the collided object hits onto the engine hood 23 and the cowl portion 24 of the
vehicle 21, the impact force I is applied from the direction in which the frangible
portions 8 are parallely-arranged, which in turn the flat plate shaped member 2 can
easily bend.
[0061] As a result, the shield plate 1 can more reliably absorb the impact force I applied
from the direction in which the frangible portions 8 are parallely-arranged.
In the shield plate 1, the elastic member 3 is positioned around the perimeter of
the peripheral portion of the flat plate shaped member 2. Therefore, when the shield
plate 1 is attached to the cowl space 26, the elastic member 3 deforms into the shape
of the cowl space 26 to firmly stick to the cowl flame 25.
[0062] As a result, the shielding effect can be improved by firmly sticking the shield plate
1 to the cowl flame 25 with simple construction.
In the shield plate 1, the elastic member 3 includes a fitting portion 9 which fits
over the peripheral portion so as to sandwich the peripheral portion of the flat plate
shaped member 2 and an elastic portion 10 positioned on the opposite side of the flat
plate shaped member 2 relative to the fitting portion 9.
[0063] Therefore, the elastic member 3 can be reliably fixed to the flat plate shaped member
2 by sandwiching the peripheral portion of the flat plate shaped member 2 with the
fitting portion 9, and when the shield plate 1 is attached to the cowl space 26, the
elastic portion 10 can be reliably firmly stuck to the cowl flame 25.
The shield plate 1 is provided with the clip 4 fixable to the cowl space 26 at the
flat plate shaped member 2. Therefore, even if the clip 4 is not formed separately,
the shield plate 1 can be installed in the cowl space 26.
[0064] As a result, the shield plate 1 can be easily installed in the cowl space 26.
Since the vehicle 21 is provided with the shield plate 1, the impact force I at the
time of a collision can be reliably absorbed.
(Variations)
[0065] FIG. 7 is a perspective view seen from the upper left illustrating a second embodiment
of the present invention. The same reference numerals are used in FIG. 7 for the same
members as the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.
[0066] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the shield plate 1 is provided with the
clip 4 fixable to the cowl space 26. However, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, in
the case where the cowl flame 25 is provided with a crosslinking plate 32 installed
between the front wall and rear wall thereof, and a first projection 34 having a cylindrical
shape is formed on the crosslinking plate 32, the cowl frame 25 does not necessarily
have the clip 4.
In such case, the crosslinking plate 32 has two first projections 34 formed in spaced
relation in the front-and-rear-direction.
[0067] A shield plate 31 includes a flat plate shaped member 2 and an elastic member 3.
In addition, the shield plate 31 has two through holes 33 formed near the center of
the flat plate shaped member 2, in the positioning corresponding to the first projecting
portion 34.
The shield plate 31 is attached by, for example, inserting the first projecting portion
34 through the penetration hole 33 toward the left side and fixing it to the crosslinking
plate 32 on the right side.
[0068] The shield plate 31 has the same operations and effects as the shield plate 1 of
the first embodiment. Besides, since the shield plate 31 does not require the clip
4, production efficiency can be further improved.
FIG. 8 is a left side view illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention.
The same reference numerals are used in FIG. 8 for the same members as the first embodiment,
and the description thereof is omitted.
[0069] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the shield plate 1 includes the struts 7
formed in a straight line positioned in parallel at spaced intervals to one another.
However, as shown in FIG. 8, the shield plate 1 may include the struts 42 having,
for example, a generally cylindrical shape in side view placed in staggered arrangement.
Portions between the struts 42 are partitioned as frangible portions 43 which are
more frangible than portions in which the struts 42 are formed.
[0070] Specifically, the frangible portions 43 are formed between the struts 42 positioned
in staggered form along three frangible portion formation directions F including a
front-and-rear-direction, a direction in which the frangible portions 43 are inclined
toward the rear side as they extend upward, and a direction in which the frangible
portions 43 are inclined toward the front side as they extend upward. The frangible
portion formation directions F intersect one another at an angle of 60 degrees.
The shield plate 41 has the same operations and effects as the shield plate 1 of the
first embodiment. Besides, in the shield plate 41, the frangible portions 43 are formed
along three frangible portion formation directions F and are parallely-arranged at
spaced intervals in each direction orthogonal to the each of respective frangible
portion formation directions F. Therefore, regardless of the sites to which the impact
force I is applied, the flat plate shaped member 2 can be bent in any direction.
[0071] As a result, the shield plate 41 can more reliably absorb the impact force I.
FIG. 9 shows drawings for explaining a method for adhesively bonding an elastic member
to the peripheral portion in a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same
reference numerals are used in each of the subsequent figures for the same members
as those in the above-mentioned embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted.
In the above-mentioned description of FIG. 2, the elastic member 3 is formed from
separate members of the fitting portion 9 and the elastic portion 10. However, as
shown in FIG. 9(b), the elastic member 3 may be formed, for example, from one member
of an elastic layer 44.
[0072] That is, the elastic layer 44 is formed from a foam used for forming the above-mentioned
elastic portion 10, and is integrally formed from the elastic portion 10 having a
generally rectangular shape in cross section serving as a base portion, and a fitting
portion 9 having a generally flat-bottomed U-shape in cross section serving as a play
portion.
An adhesive layer 45 composed of known adhesives is laminated on the inner surface
of the fitting portion 9.
The elastic member 3 is adhesively bonded to the peripheral portion of the flat plate
shaped member 2 in the following manner. First, as indicated by dashed arrows in FIG.
9(a), the front ends of the fitting portion 9 are opened toward both sides in the
thickness direction of the flat plate shaped member 2. Subsequently, as indicated
by the arrows in FIG. 9(a) and shown in FIG. 9(b), after the fitting portion 9 is
inserted into the flat plate shaped member 2, the inner surface of the fitting portion
9 is adhesively bonded to the peripheral portion of the flat plate shaped member 2
via the adhesive layer 45.
[0073] According to this method, since the elastic member 3 is integrally formed from one
elastic layer 44, the construction of the elastic member 3 can be simplified.
FIG. 10 shows drawings for explaining a method for adhesively bonding an elastic member
to the peripheral portion in a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
In the above description, the elastic portion 10 and the fitting portion 9 are formed
in a generally rectangular shape and a generally flat-bottomed U-shape in cross section,
respectively. However, as shown in FIG. 10(a), the elastic member 3 may be formed,
for example, in a trapezoidal shape in cross section.
[0074] The elastic member 3 is formed in a generally trapezoidal shape in cross section
gradually narrowing in width (a length in the thickness direction of the flat plate
shaped member 2) as it extends toward the outside (outside of the peripheral portion).
The elastic member 3 is adhesively bonded to the peripheral portion of the flat plate
shaped member 2 in the following manner. First, as indicated by the arrow in FIG.
10(a), the adhesive layer 45 on the inner surface (a face opposed to the peripheral
portion) of the elastic member 3 is brought into contact with the peripheral portion
of the flat plate shaped member 2. This allows the widthwise center of the inner surface
of the elastic member 3 to be bonded to the end face of the peripheral portion of
the flat plate shaped member 2 with the adhesive layer 45.
[0075] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10(b), both widthwise ends of the elastic member 3
are bonded to both the left side surface and the right side surface of the peripheral
portion of the flat plate shaped member 2 via the adhesive layer 45. Specifically,
as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 10(b), both the widthwise end portions of the elastic
member 3 are bonded to both surfaces of the peripheral portion of the flat plate shaped
member 2 via the adhesive layer 45 while being pulled inwardly toward the flat plate
shaped member 2.
The elastic member 3 is then formed in a generally circular shape (a curved shape
expanding outward) in cross section by pulling both the widthwise end portions described
above, so that the elastic section 10 positioned outside the peripheral portion and
the fitting portion 9 positioned on both sides of the peripheral portion are formed.
[0076] Since the elastic member 3 is formed in a generally circular shape (a curved shape)
in cross section after adhesively bonded to the peripheral portion, peeling resulting
from contact with the cowl portion 24 can be effectively prevented at the time of
the positioning to the cowl portion 24, as compared with the elastic member 3 having
a generally rectangular shape shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, adhesion between the elastic
member 3 and the peripheral portion of the flat plate shaped member 2 can be enhanced.
As a result, the shielding effect of the shield plate 1 using the elastic member 3
can be further improved.
[0077] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a sixth embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 12 is a sectional view, taken along the line B-B shown in FIG. 11, illustrating
the recesses of FIG. 11, FIG. 13 is a sectional view, taken along the line C-C shown
in FIG. 11, illustrating a filling portion of FIG. 11, FIG. 14 is a sectional view,
taken along the line D-D shown in FIG. 11, illustrating a bending portion of FIG.
11, and FIG. 15 shows a perspective view for explaining bending in the bending portion
of FIG. 11. The shield plate 1 shown in FIG. 11 is applied with a proper posture corresponding
to the shape of the cowl in the vehicle structure, and will be described based on
the direction arrows shown in FIG. 11 in each of the subsequent figures, for convenience.
[0078] In FIG. 11, the shield plate 1 has a ladder shape in cross section (cross section
in the direction orthogonal to the front-and-rear-direction), and includes a flat
plate shaped member 2 having a generally rectangular flat band in the front-and-rear-direction,
provided with a second projection 53 of which the lower end portions of the front
and rear end portions project toward the lower side.
The flat plate shaped member 2 includes a first recess 16, a second recess 19, and
a filling portion 17 as reinforcing portions, and a bending portion 18.
[0079] The first recess 16 is partially formed in the flat plate shaped member 2, and specifically
provided in the front end face of the flat plate shaped member 2 and formed so that
the left-side front end edge is compressed in an inclined form. Specifically, as shown
in FIGS. 11 and 12, the first recess 16 is formed in an inclined shape (a triangular
shape in cross section) in which the left side surface is close to the right side
surface as extends toward the front.
The first recess 16 can be formed by, for example, hot pressing the front end surface
of the flat plate shaped member 2 from the upper side.
[0080] The second recess 19 is partially formed in the flat plate shaped member 2, and specifically
provided in the front end portion of the flat plate shaped member 2, spaced apart
in the rear of the first recess 16, and formed so as to extend along the up-and-down
direction (the direction orthogonal to the frangible portion formation direction F).
The second recess 19 is formed so that the left side portion of the flat plate shaped
member 2 is compressed toward the right side (partway in the thickness direction).
Specifically, the second recess 19 is formed so as to be recessed in a generally rectangular
shape in cross section.
[0081] The second recess 19 can be formed by, for example, hot pressing the left side of
the flat plate shaped member 2 from the left side.
The filling portion 17 is partially formed in the flat plate shaped member 2, as shown
in FIGS. 11 and 13, and specifically, positioned in the upper portion of the flat
plate shaped member 2, and is formed in the flat plate shaped member 2 over the front-and-rear-direction.
The filling portion 17 is formed by filling a space (filling space) partitioned with
one pair of struts 7 opposed to each other, the left side plate 5 and the right side
plate 6 installed therebetween, with a filler. Examples of the filler that is used
for forming the filling portion 17 include the same materials as the above-mentioned
synthetic resin that forms the flat plate shaped member 2, and/or the above-mentioned
synthetic rubber foam.
[0082] The filling portion 17 can be formed by pouring the above-mentioned synthetic resin
into the above-mentioned filling space from the front end and/or the rear end thereof.
The bending portion 18 is partially formed in the flat plate shaped member 2, as shown
in FIGS. 11 and 14(a), and specifically, provided in the rear end portion of the flat
plate shaped member 2, and formed extending in an inclined form relative to the frangible
portion formation direction F. That is, the bending portion 18 is formed in a straight
line in side view from the rear end face to the lower end face, and inclined toward
the lower side as it extends frontward. The bending portion 18 is formed so that the
left side portion (the left side plate 5 and the struts 7 indicated by dashed lines
in FIG. 14) of the flat plate shaped member 2 is compressed rightward (partway in
the thickness direction). Specifically, the bending portion 18 is formed so as to
be recessed in a generally triangular shape in cross section.
[0083] Therefore, as referred to the arrow in FIG. 14(b), the bending portion 18 is formed
bendable along the above-mentioned inclined direction (a direction in which the bending
portion 18 extends).
The bending portion 18 can be formed by, for example, pressing the left side of the
flat plate shaped member 2 from the left side.
Different from the frangible portion 8 bent by applying the above-mentioned impact
force I thereto, the bending portion 18 is formed as a portion which bends when an
external force (stress) is applied by an operator as described later.
[0084] With the shield plate 1, when the impact force I is applied to the front end portion
of the flat plate shaped member 2 along the frangible portion formation direction
F, the flat plate shaped member 2 is about to bend. At this time, the first recess
16 and the second recess 19 can reinforce themselves and the vicinity thereof.
Therefore, the strength of such site can be increased.
As a result, the flat plate shaped member 2 can absorb the impact force I with maintaining
its specified shape.
[0085] In addition, even if a stress S along the frangible portion formation direction F
is applied to the upper side of the flat plate shaped member 2, the filling portion
17 can reinforce the left side plate 5, the right side plate 6, and the struts 7 which
are adjacent to the filling portion 17.
Therefore, the strength of such site can be increased.
As a result, the flat plate shaped member 2 can absorb the impact force I by bending
with maintaining its specified shape.
[0086] In the case where the cowl portion 24 (see FIG. 3) is formed in a complex shape,
an operator bends the bending portion 18 as shown in FIG. 14, thereby allowing the
shield plate 1 to be reliably positioned in the cowl portion 24.
In particular, when there is a narrow space preceding a place for positioning the
shield plate 1, the flat plate shaped member 2 is folded by bending the bending portion
18 and is let pass through the narrow space in such folded state. Thereafter, the
bending portion 18 is extended again, so that the flat plate shaped member 2 is finally
placed in an unfolded state.
[0087] In the above description, the bending portion 18 is formed in a shape inclined to
the frangible portion formation direction F. However, for example, as indicated by
phantom lines in FIG. 11, it can be formed in a shape orthogonal to the frangible
portion formation direction F.
As indicated by solid lines in FIG. 11, the bending portion 18 is preferably formed
in a shape inclined to the frangible portion formation direction F.
[0088] When the bending portion 18 is formed in the shape orthogonal to the frangible portion
formation direction F, end portions 29 facing the bending portion 18 in the installation
portions 20 which continuously erect on the struts 7 in the left side plate 5, are
opposed to each other in the frangible portion formation direction F, as referred
to FIG. 14(a). Therefore, at the time of bending of the bending portion 18, the end
portions 29 come into contact with each other, which may limit the movable range of
the bending portion 18, or such contact can cause the right side plate 6 of the bending
portion 18 to be pulled, which may result in damage of the right side plate 6.
[0089] On the other hand, when the bending portion 18 is formed in a shape inclined to the
frangible portion formation direction F, the end portions 29 facing to the bending
portions 18 of the installation portions 20 are not opposed to one another but positioned
in a staggered form in the direction G orthogonal to the direction along the bending
portions 18 as shown in FIG. 15. This can prevent the end portions 29 of the installation
portions 20 from touching one another at the time of bending of the bending portion
18 and can also cause the end portions 29 on both sides of the bending portion 18
to approach in the staggered form (see FIG. 14 (b)), allowing the bending portion
18 to bend flexibly. In addition, damage (specifically, crack, etc.) to the right
side plate 6 of the bending portion 18 described above can be prevented.
[0090] FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating the bending portion of a seventh embodiment
of the present invention, FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the bending portion
of an eighth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating
the bending portion of a ninth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 19 is
a perspective view illustrating the bending portion of a tenth embodiment of the present
invention.
In the above description, the bending portion 18 is formed so as to be notched in
a triangular shape in cross section. However, the shape is not limited and, for example,
as shown in FIGS. 16 to 19, the bending portion 18 may be formed in a generally rectangular
shape (FIGS. 16, 18, and 19) in cross section and in a generally W shape in cross
section (FIG. 17) so as to be recessed.
[0091] In FIG. 16, the bending portion 18 is formed in a straight line extending orthogonally
to the frangible portion formation direction F. The width (the front-and-rear-direction
length) of the bending portion 18 is set longer than an acceptable level of length
which does not cause any contact between the end portions 29 of the installation portion
20 described above at the time of bending, i.e., the spacing between the left side
plate 5 and the right side plate 6 both described above.
The bending portion 18 is formed bendable along the up-and-down direction.
[0092] The bending portion 18 can be formed by, for example, hot pressing the left side
portion of the flat plate shaped member 2 from the left side.
Thus, the bending portion 18 can flexibly bend.
Therefore, when any flow of a liquid (specifically, rain water and/or a cleaning liquid,
etc.) and/or solid foreign matters which flow together with the liquid occur in the
cowl space 26 (see FIG. 3) of the cowl portion 24, pressure resulting from such flow
can bend the flat plate shaped member 2, allowing the liquid and/or the foreign matters
flowing into the cowl space 26 (see FIG. 3) in the cowl portion 24 of the vehicle
21 to pass through.
[0093] In FIG. 17, the bending portion 18 is partitioned with two compressed portions 50
having a generally triangular shape.
Such bending portion 18 can more flexibly bend with these two compressed portions
50. Therefore, the liquid and/or the foreign matters flowing into the cowl space 26
(see FIG. 3) in the cowl portion 24 of the vehicle 21 as described above can be more
reliably passed through.
[0094] In FIG. 18, a single-cut line 30 inclined along the up-and-down direction is formed
on the left side surface and the right side surface of the bending portion 18. Specifically,
of the single-cut line 30, a left single-cut line 51 formed in the left side surface
of the bending portion 18 and a right single-cut line 52 formed in the right side
surface of the bending portion 18 are projected to the left side and the right side,
respectively, and a plurality of these folds are spaced apart from one another in
the up-and-down direction.
The left single-cut line 51 and the right single-cut line 52 are orthogonal to each
other when projected in the left-and-right direction (thickness direction). More specifically,
the left single-cut line 51 inclines rearward as it extends upward while the right
single-cut line 52 inclines forward as it extends upward.
[0095] These single-cut lines 30 are formed by hot pressing in the left-and-right direction,
specifically, by simultaneously applying heat and pressure from the left-and-right
direction using a heat press having two dies corresponding to the left single-cut
line 51 and the right single-cut line 52.
In the shield plate 1, the single-cut line 30 can increase flexibility of the bending
portion 18. Therefore, the liquid and/or the foreign matters flowing into the cowl
space 26 (see FIG. 3) in the cowl portion 24 of the vehicle 21 as described above
can be reliably passed through.
[0096] Since the left single-cut line 51 and the right single-cut line 52 of the bending
portion 18 are orthogonal to each other when projected in the left-and-right direction,
mechanical durability of the bending portion 18 can be improved.
In the description of FIG. 18, the bending portion 18 is formed over the entire up-and-down
direction of the flat plate shaped member 2. However, it may be formed, for example,
in its end portion in the up-and-down-direction or partway in such direction.
In FIG. 19, the flat plate shaped member 2 has a slit 35 formed dividing it into two
portions, and the bending portion 18 is formed with a first flexible sheet 36 which
is installed on the left side surface of the flat plate shaped member 2 on both sides
of the slit 35.
[0097] The first flexible sheet 36 is formed from, for example, the above-mentioned synthetic
resins, synthetic rubber such as ethylene-propylene rubber and ethylenepropylenediene
rubber, or foams, and is formed from fibers such as paper, nonwoven cloth, or textile
fabric.
In the bending portion 18, the first flexible sheet 36 can flexibly bend the bending
portion 18, allowing the liquid and/or the foreign matters flowing into the cowl space
26 (see FIG. 3) in the cowl portion 24 of the vehicle 21 to pass through.
[0098] FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating an eleventh embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 21 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a flexure portion
of FIG. 20, FIG. 22 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the line E-E shown
in FIG. 20, illustrating an elastic member of FIG. 20, and FIG. 23 shows drawings
for explaining a method for adhesively bonding an elastic member to the peripheral
portion.
In FIG. 20, the shield plate 1 further includes a second flexible sheet 37 as a flexible
sheet.
[0099] The second flexible sheet 37 is laminated on the right side surface of the flat plate
shaped member 2, and specifically, positioned so as to include the second projection
53 of the flat plate shaped member 2 in side view.
In other words, the second flexible sheet 37 includes an extending portion 38 which
extends outward (frontward, rearward, and downward) from the peripheral portion of
the second projection 53 of the flat plate shaped member 2.
The second flexible sheet 37 is formed from the same material as used for forming
the above-mentioned first flexible sheet 36, and is formed preferably from the above-mentioned
synthetic rubber.
[0100] The second flexible sheet 37 includes a flexure portion 39 and a bellows-like portion
40.
The flexure portion 39 is formed by deflecting the extending portion 38 partway in
the extending direction toward the left side as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 21,
and then bonding the front end portion of the extending portion 38 to the left side
surface of the peripheral portion of the flat plate shaped member 2 via an adhesive,
which is not shown.
As shown in FIG. 20, the bellows-like portion 40 is extended forward from the front
end portion, and is formed in a bellows-like form in cross section. The bellows-like
portion 40 has folds 54 formed in spaced relation in the up-and-down direction, each
extending along the front-and-rear-direction.
[0101] The elastic member 3 includes the above-mentioned elastic layer 44 and the adhesive
layer 45 as shown in FIG. 22, and also integrally includes an overlapping portion
46 and an attached portion 47.
The overlapping portion 46 is positioned on the outside (the upper side) of the peripheral
portion of the flat plate shaped member 2 and is partitioned as a portion in which
the elastic layer 44 is overlapped by mutually bonding via the adhesive layer 45.
[0102] The attached portion 47 is continuously bonded from the lower end portion of the
overlapping portion 46 to the left and right side surfaces of the peripheral portion
of the flat plate shaped member 2 via the adhesive layer 45, to thereby be partitioned
as a portion to be stuck on both side surfaces of the peripheral portion of the flat
plate shaped member 2.
The elastic member 3 is adhesively bonded to the peripheral portion of the flat plate
shaped member 2 in the following manner. First, as shown in FIG. 23(a), an elastic
adhesive sheet 55 including the elastic layer 44, the adhesive layer 45 formed on
a surface thereof, and a release film 57 formed on a surface thereof is prepared.
[0103] Notches 58 are preliminarily formed between the widthwise center and both widthwise
ends of the release film 57.
Then, as shown in FIG. 23(b), the release film 57 at the widthwise center is peeled
off from the adhesive layer 45 along the notches 58.
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 23(c), the elastic layer 44 at the widthwise center
is bonded to each other so as to be overlapped via the adhesive layer 45. This can
form the overlapping portion 46 and the attached portion 47 continuously extends therefrom
in two directions.
[0104] Then, as shown in FIG. 23(d), the release film 57 in the attached portion 47 is peeled
off from the adhesive layer 45, and the elastic layer 44 in the attached portion 47
is opposed to the end face of the peripheral portion of the flat plate shaped member
2. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 23(e), the elastic layer 44 in the attached portion
47 is adhesively bonded to the left and right side surfaces of the peripheral portion
via the adhesive layer 45.
In the shield plate 1, the flexible extending portion 38 can be reliably attached
to the cowl portion 24 (see FIG. 3) where the shield plate 1 is mounted.
[0105] On the other hand, bending of the flexible extending portion 38 allows the shield
plate 1 to be reliably positioned in the cowl portion 24 having a complex shape, or
bending of the flexible extending portion 38 in the left-and-right direction allows
the liquid and/or the foreign matters in the cowl space 26 (see FIG. 3) in the cowl
portion 24 to pass through.
With the shield plate 1, the attached portion 47 can fix the overlapping portion 46
to the flat plate shaped member 2, and the overlapping portion 46 can also be reliably
firmly stuck to the cowl portion 24.
[0106] The overlapping width W of the overlapping portion 46 (see FIG. 22) can be set to
a fixed value, so that the shielding effect by the overlapping portion 46 can be further
enhanced.
Further, the positioning (see FIG. 23(d)) of the elastic member 3 relative to the
end face of the peripheral portion of the flat plate shaped member 2, a continuing
section of the overlapping portion 46 and the attached portion 47 is opposed to the
center of the end face of the peripheral portion, whereby the attached portion 47
can be well-balanced and easily positioned on the right side surface and the left
side surface of the peripheral portion and can be adhesively bonded thereto.
While the illustrative embodiments of the present invention are provided in the above
description, such is for illustrative purpose only and it is not to be construed restrictively.
Modification and variation of the present invention that will be obvious to those
skilled in the art is to be covered by the following claims.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0107] A shield plate is for use as, for example, a space partition of cowl members of vehicles,
or the like.